Counseling Families in Poverty: Moving from Paralyzing to Revitalizing

Counseling families in poverty can be a daunting process if one only focuses on what is lacking. Taking such a deficit approach is limiting not only to the counselor but also can serve to disempower the clients. This paper presents a strengths-based approach for counseling families living in poverty that emphasizes relational processes and the excavation of resources and resilience. More specifically, recommendations are presented that recognize the contextual factors of families living in poverty and that stress the therapeutic relationship, counselor self-reflection, an unassuming professional stance, and taking on of an advocacy role

The Effects of counseling on the retention and academic performance of underprepared freshmen

Higher education administrators, faculty, and staff expend great effort to increase the academic success and retention of college freshmen. Underprepared college freshmen are of particular concern given their high risk for dropping out. While interventions such as specific orientation programs, remedial/developmental coursework, and special advisement are utilized to increase retention of these students, one area that appears promising is the provision of counseling. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the impact of individual counseling, grade point average (GPA), and failing remedial and other courses on underprepared freshmen\u27s retention rates. Analysis of variance and logistic regression analyses revealed that counseling for 3 to 4 hours in the fall had a positive impact on fall GPA, and failing fall remedial courses was the most significant predictor of whether a student was retained or not. However, in the spring, GPA, the number of credits completed, and the number of remedial courses taken were the best predictors

Exploring the context of child sexual abuse in Jamaica: Addressing the deficits

Jamaican media sources have recently noted the prevalence of child sexual abuse within the country. While research has continually noted the mental health impact of child sexual abuse, there is a dearth of literature on the relationship between the two in Jamaica. The purpose of this article is to provide the context of child sexual abuse in Jamaica, including the cultural considerations, current legislation, government created agencies, and modes of treatment. Moreover, recommendations are given for public health educators, school personnel, and mental health service providers in order to improve the psychological well-being of sexually abuse children. © 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Influencing Preservice Teachers\u27 Attitudes About Working With Low-Income and/or Ethnic Minority Families

There is a growing literature revealing the complexity of family-school relationships and the significant power imbalances and mismatches between the role expectations of caregivers and teachers who differ by class and race. This study investigates a course at a large research university in the Southeastern United States designed to influence the attitudes of preservice teachers (PSTs) about how they might work with low-income and/or ethnic minority families. Study results on 138 PSTs demonstrate that, after completing the course, their attitudes were less stereotypic, they were more confident about using family-centric involvement practices, and conceptualized student\u27s problems in less blaming terms. © The Author(s) 2012

A qualitative examination of the impact of culturally responsive educational practices on the psychological well-being of students of color

Scholars have shown that educational experiences within the classroom may marginalize students of color which may result in psychological distress. However, the utilization of culturally responsive educational practices (CRE) can create environments in which marginalized students can thrive not only academically, but psychologically. The authors provide a qualitative case study examining the culturally responsive practices of one teacher through a relational cultural theory (RCT) lens. The findings suggest that CRE practices may serve as psychological interventions that are associated with decreased psychological distress and increased psychological well-being amongst students of color. Specifically, students demonstrated behaviors depicting a number of RCT’s five good things, including zest, empowerment, connection, clarity, and self-worth, that improve psychological well-being according to RCT

An Ecological View of School Counselor Ratios and Student Academic Outcomes: A National Investigation

The effect of student-to-school-counselor ratios on academic outcomes has been widely studied, yet few researchers have taken a multilevel approach. Using the nationally representative High School Longitudinal Study: 2009 dataset, the authors found ratios were significantly associated with student grade point average (GPA) and graduation. Attending a Title I school also was associated with students’ GPA, advanced placement/international baccalaureate credits earned, and postsecondary course taking. The authors discuss implications for advocacy and practice, contextualizing their findings within an ecological framework

Building on what works: Supporting underprepared students through a low-cost counseling intervention

Higher education institutions are often concerned about retention rates, particularly among underprepared students. This study examines the effects of Counselors providing Resources, Integration, Skill Development, and Psychosocial Support (CRISP), which is a low-cost counseling model focused on increasing the academic success and retention of underprepared undergraduates (n = 273). Results indicated participation in CRISP was significantly related to higher first-year grade point average and retention to the second and third years of college

A Qualitative Examination of the Impact of Culturally Responsive Educational Practices on the Psychological Well-Being of Students of Color

Scholars have shown that educational experiences within the classroom may marginalize students of color which may result in psychological distress. However, the utilization of culturally responsive educational practices (CRE) can create environments in which marginalized students can thrive not only academically, but psychologically. The authors provide a qualitative case study examining the culturally responsive practices of one teacher through a relational cultural theory (RCT) lens. The findings suggest that CRE practices may serve as psychological interventions that are associated with decreased psychological distress and increased psychological well-being amongst students of color. Specifically, students demonstrated behaviors depicting a number of RCT’s five good things, including zest, empowerment, connection, clarity, and self-worth, that improve psychological well-being according to RCT

Examining the Relational Processes of a Highly Successful Teacher of African American Children

Culturally responsive educational practices have arisen as effective means of increasing culturally diverse students\u27 academic achievement and psychological well-being; however, the relational processes involved are not well understood. Using grounded theory, this study examines the relational processes of one culturally responsive teacher and her fifth grade African American students. A dimension that emerged from the data was emotional connectedness. It includes the connective interactions between the teacher and student, the connective interactions between the teacher and the whole class, and teacher transparency and joining. Rich descriptions of each theme are provided as well as implications for teacher practice and preparation. © The Author(s) 2012